"Pesrsian Gulf states sponsor terrorismâ€™

A former Bahraini lawmaker accuses Persian Gulf littoral states of nurturing terrorism in the region, rejecting Iran meddling in Bahrain. In an interview with al-Alam Arabic-language channel,

Jalal Fairooz said the report presented by the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry chief, Mahmoud Cherif Bassiouni, has described the protests in the country as a domestic issue. In a March 13 meeting in Riyadh, Arab interior ministers accused Iran of supplying â€œlogistic help to terrorist operationsâ€ in Bahrain and Yemen. Fairooz added that aside from confessions extracted from prisoners under duress, Manama has not been able to provide a single shred of evidence to support its anti-Iran allegations. Rejecting the unrest in Bahrain as sectarian strife, Fairooz said the Bahraini nation has a right to reform and wants democracy in the country. Bahrainis have been protesting since mid-February 2011, demanding political reforms and a constitutional monarchy. The demand later changed to an outright call for the ouster of the ruling Al Khalifa family following its brutal crackdown on popular protests. Since the popular uprising began in Bahrain, many people have lost their lives in protests, in custody or under torture.